Islam4UK March Should be Allowed.

I accept that there will be a plethora of people out their who will vehemently disagree with the title of this blogpost. Julian Ware-Lane writes about it here. Islam4UK is an extremist organisation that gives a platform to radicalised Muslims who do not represent mainstream Islam. They plan to march through Wootton Bassett in protest against Britain’s continuing presence in Afghanistan.

I share the anger of those who have joined the groups on Facebook and expressed sentiments in different forums. However I don’t share the view that this march should be banned. Just as I would never support the banning of a BNP protest. We live in a democracy. As such we have the right to protest peacefully. I may find the way in which groups protest abhorrent, I may find their motives disgusting but as long as they’re peaceful I think they should be allowed to protest. Banning their protest and compromising our democracy will give them the oxygen they need.

So let the march go ahead. Let other extremist groups march. In a democracy these elements will always exist. The best answer to this protest would be to continue honouring our troops in the same manner as always. Any other reaction, I fear, will be victory for Islam4UK.

Time To Leave?

Over the last year or so, there has been a remarkable shift in public opinion with regards to the war in Afghanistan. Everybody has observed this. But today, on Remembrance Sunday, the Independent of Sunday has called for the British government to pull troops out of Afghanistan. It is the first paper to do so. Patrick Cockburn in a considered and engaging article eloquently sets out the reasons why. That article can be found here, if you’d like to read it.

The situation in Afghanistan is obviously complex. Speaking authoritatively on this issue is difficult because I don’t have access to the vast array of details the government and media does, so forgive me for talking conceptually in this post. Also forgive me for brushing over our reasons for going into Afghanistan. It is a debate that we can have at another time and I don’t feel our motives for going in should inform our dealing with this situation now.

Instinctively, I think we should stay in Afghanistan and continue our attempts to build infrastructure, in the form of the police, army, schools and hospitals. Having gone in to Afghanistan (for right or wrong) and presided over a destructive military campaign, we have a moral responsibility to assist the rebuilding process. We must acknowledge that you cannot launch a military campaign, decimate a country and leave without providing any help. How irresponsible would that have been? However, initial instincts should always be reconsidered in the cold light of day.

And I did this. There are too many dynamics in play for me to sit here in my seat and naively stick to instinct.
Foreign invaders never achieve their objectives in Afghanistan. The Soviets in ‘79 is the immediate thought that springs to mind. So what is the point of British forces remaining in Afghanistan if our objectives aren’t achievable? The Taleban continue to disrupt British and American forces. Public support in Britain and Afghanistan for an increase number of troops is low. And public support in this country for the mission generally continues to wane.

So that leaves the British government in an impossible position. I personally believe that the government should make plans for a phased withdrawal from Afghanistan, culminating in complete withdrawal by 2011. Whatever may happen, it is important to make the distinction between the policy in Afghanistan and the work that our boys are doing.

It seems fitting today, to end this post by paying tribute to the brave work that our soldiers all across the world, particularly in places like Afghanistan. Our troops are second to none and we are grateful for all the work you. You make me proud to be British.